Roll-through labeler

ABSTRACT

An electromechanical labeling machine is disclosed for automatically pasting labels on containers as they are moved, as by a rolling movement, past a labeling mechanism. As the containers move along a conveyor, they pick up glue in a configuration corresponding to that of the label that is to be applied. The glued surface of the container then registers with a label in the labeling mechanism and the label adheres to the container.

United States Patent I 13,607,568

[72] Inventor Herman Laub, 111 1,847,904 3/1932 Schueler 156/451 244 N. San Marino Ave,, San Gabriel, 2,069,872 2/1937 Burns 156/453 Calif. 91775 2,908,414 /1959 Fairest et al. 156/451 [21] Appl. No. 694,507 3,235,433 2/1966 Cvacho et aL... 156/229 [22] Filed Dec. 29, 1967 491,989 2/1893 Donally 156/451 Patented Sept. 21,1971 558,064 4/1896 Grace et a1. 156/453 2,641,377 6/1953 Zander 156/453 [54] ROLUTHROUGH LABELER Prir nary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt 14 Claims 13 Drawing Figs ASSISMIII Examn er(.i. E. Montone Attorney-Marvin Jabln [52] US. Cl 156/453, 156/455, 156/357 [51] Int. Cl 1365c 9/02, ABSTRACT: An electromechanical labeling machine is B659 9/22 closed for automatically pasting labels on containers as they Field of Search 156/453, are moved a by a rolling movement, past a labeling 451,455 357 mechanism. As the containers move along a conveyor, they pick up glue in a configuration corresponding to that of the [56] Reermces cued label that is to be applied. The glued surface of the container UNITED STATES PATENTS then registers with a label in the labeling mechanism and the B oyer 156/451 label adheres to the container.

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slew/L568 PATENTED SEP21 I97! SHEET 3 BF 4 INVENTOR.

HfEM/W 4/105 177 BY My Azme/va RoLL-TnRoucn LABELER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past it has been impossible to do a good spot label job on a roll-through labeler. Such labelers are made for a fullwrap operation in which hot pickup glue is applied on the bottle by means of a chain or wheel rolling in melted hot pickup glue. The bottle rolls over this glue and then onto the labels in the label bed in the next revolution, pulls out one label, and rolls the full-wrap label around itself. "Lap" paste is applied on the trailing edge of the label. The bottle is then rolled against a compression area where the label lap rolls against the front edge and adheres to itself.

The majority of all bottles are round and a roll-through spot labeler has quite an application potential in the bottle field. A spot label costs less than a wraparound label and allows the product to be seen better. In trying to make a roll-through spot labeler out of a full-wrap roll-through labeler, attempts have been made to use two hot pickups. The result has been a very poor label job, with ends turned up and hot pickup spider webbing" or smearing on the unlabeled portion of the bottle.

All good-quality spot labelers now known to be in use put the glue on he label and then put the label on the bottle. These are complex machines with many reciprocating parts. These limit speeds to about 60 cycles per minute in most cases. Highspeed spot labelers are usually multiple-station types and are very expensive. Other spot labelers have a flying label bed and give rise to many problems in timing and reciprocal rotation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a roll-through labeler includes a conveyor that moves bottles through the machine. A motor operates a pump which supplies glue to a glue tube. Glue flows from the glue tube onto a metal glue roller, and a wiper bar wipes off excess glue. Rubber transfer rolls are carried on roller chains in a closed loop and they pick up glue from the metal glue roller and apply the glue to a rubber glue pad.

As the bottles move along on the conveyor, they pick up glue from the glue pad in a shape and pattern corresponding to that of the label that is to be applied. The system is synchronized by speed and spacing so that as each bottle passes a label feed utilizing a retaining tract terminating in a knife edge, the glued surface of the bottle registers with the lead label in the label feed and the label sticks to the bottle. A compression pad applies pressure to the label on the bottle so that is is securely affixed thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roll-through labeler according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the roll-through labeler shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing glue being applied to a bottle.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a label being applied to a bottle.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a compression pad applying pressure to a label on a bottle.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a different embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a different embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view taken along the line 11-11 ofFIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a different embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view taken along the line 13-l3 of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show labeler 11 having motor 13 which operates glue pump 15. The pump 15 is coupled to glue-storage pan l7 and supplies glucose label gum to metal glue roller 19 through glue tube 21. The glue drops from glue tube 21 onto the glue roller 19, which is made of a metal such as stainless steel. The glue spread or wiper bars 23 and 24 wipe off excess glue as the roller 19 rotates counterclockwise, as shown by the arrow. The excess glue is returned to storage pan 17.

The rubber transfer rolls 31 are carried on roller chains 33 and 35, with the upper end of each roll 31 being attached to chain 33, and the lower end of each roll 31 being attached to chain 35. Chains 33 and 35 move in a clockwise direction. The transfer rolls 31 pick up glue from glue roller 19 and apply the glue to glue pad 37, which is made of rubber.

The V-belts 41 move counterclockwise on adjustable pulleys and keep the bottles 43 against the railings 45. The tabletop chain conveyor 47 carries the bottles 43 through labeler 11 from the left toward the right, as shown by the direction of arrows 49. The V-belt 41 moves twice as fast as conveyor 47, causing bottles 43 to rotate clockwise, giving rise to the name roll-through labeler.

Infeed star 51, which is mounted upon shaft 53, feeds bottles 43 into labeler 11 in a predetermined sequence. Sprocket 55 is affixed to the upper end of shaft 53 and is coupled to V- belt takeup shaft 57 by roller chain 59. Sprocket 61, which is mounted upon shaft 57, is coupled to sprocket 63, which is mounted on glue roller shaft 65, by means of roller chain 67. The glue roller 19 is also mounted upon shaft 65. The chain 67 is also coupled to the transfer roll drive shaft 69 and to the transmission chain takeup shaft 71.

FIG. 3 shows glue pad 37 more clearly. As the bottles 43 rotate clockwise, they roll across glue pad 37, picking up a coating of glue corresponding in configuration to the shape of the label that is to be applied.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show in detail the label feed mechanism 75 used to enable each glue-bearing bottle 43 to pick up its label. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the label feed mechanism 75 is positioned at a slanted angle, so as not to be perpendicular to the path taken by bottles 43. This is done so that the label feed mechanism 75 will not obstruct the passage of the bottles 43, while permitting edge 76 of label 77 to protrude into the path of the bottles. The system is synchronized by speed and the spacing between bottles 43, so that each bottle 43 reaches label feed mechanism 75, the leading edge of the glued surface of the bottle 43 registers with the leading edge 76 of the lead or first label 77 of label stack 79.

Saw slots 81 and 83 run across the top and bottom, respectively, of label stack 79, and retaining tracks 85 and 87 fit within slots 81 and 83, respectively, to help prevent lateral movement of the label stack 79, so that only the lead label 77 is removed by the next approaching bottle 43. Knife edge of upper retaining track 85 and knife edge 97 of lower track 87 each extends about one-sixteenth inch beyond its respective label slot, and cooperates with spring-mounted finger 98 of arm 99 and the flat washer 101 to restrain the label stack 79 clear of the path of bottles 43. Without these restraints, weight 103, which is connected to pivotable pusher plate 105 by means of rod 107 and rope 1.09, which passes around pulley 111, would push the label stack 79 forward off the label bed 113, causing the label stack 79 to move into the path of the bottles 43.

The knife edges 95 and 97, by being sharp and small in area, permit the first or lead label 77 to be pulled away from the label stack 79 by the glue on the bottle 43, while finger 98 and washer 101 prevent the other labels from following along with the lead label 77. Finger 98 does not interfere with the passage of the bottles 43, because finger 98 is small and positioned in the center of the edge of label stack 79, as a consequence of 5 which the upper and lower corners of the leading edges of the first few labels warp or bend over and extend forward of the finger 98.

Label width adjustment plate 121 and label high adjustment bolts 123 are provided so that labeler 11 can accommodate different sizes and shapes of labels. Washer 101 and arm 99 are similarly adjustable, as well as are other component parts of the label feed mechanism 75.

FIG. 7 shows more clearly the compression pad 127 applying pressure to the label 77 on the bottle 43, so that it is securely affixed thereto, as the bottle 43 continues to rotate while it is carried along on conveyor 47, until it emerges at the right-hand side of labeler 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Means are provided at stations 129 and 131 for adjustment of the top V-belt and railing. Screws 133 are provided for lifting and tilting and to aid in the adjustment of labeler 11. The two V-belts 41 are driven by electric drive motor 135 by means of speed reduction gearbox 137, main drive shaft 139, variable-speed pulleys 141, and torque limiter 143.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a different embodiment in which the infeed star 51 and its supporting mechanism are replaced by a roller skate wheel arrangement especially suitable for use with glass bottles having handles. Thus, continuous-belt conveyor 201 is shown transporting glass bottles 203 towards the right in FIG. 8, as shown by the direction of arrow 205. Upper skate wheel 207 and corresponding lower skate wheel 208 are mounted on chain drive 209, which is supported by track 210 and sprocket 211 and driven by sprocket 212. A portion of the path taken by the skate wheels 207 lies above and substantially along the path of conveyor belt 201, and another portion of the path taken by the skate wheels 207 lies above and angularly disposed with respect to the path taken by conveyor belt 201.

Bottles 203 are initially loaded upon conveyor belt 201 in a somewhat random fashion. Conveyor belt 201 carries the bottles 203 towards the skate wheels until contact is made therewith, The pairs of skate wheels 207 and 208 are spaced upon chain drive 209 so as to permit only one bottle 203 to fit between adjacent pairs of skate wheels. Thus, regardless of the initially random positions of bottles 203 upon conveyor belt 201, as the bottles approach each upper and lower skate wheel pair, one pair forces its way between and separates each pair of adjacent bottles 203. The spring 212a prevents the bottles 203 from being pushed off the conveyor belt 201 by the roller skate wheels, while being sufficiently elastic to prevent the forces exerted by the skate wheels from breaking or crushing the bottles 203 before the skate wheel pairs are properly positioned therebetween.

Gonveyor belt 201 moves faster than does chain drive 209. Thus, the bottles 203 are moved ahead until each bottle contacts the skate wheel pair directly ahead of it. The next skate wheel pair separates the next bottle, which moves into place against that next skate wheel. Two bottles cannot fit between adjacent skate wheel pairs.

The forces between conveyor belt 201 and the skate wheels, which are free to rotate, force the bottles towards and against conveyor rails 213 and 213'. The resulting friction causes rotation of the bottles clockwise until the motion of an offcenter protrusion, such as handle 214, is stopped by orienter rail 215, which is shown more clearly in FIG. 9. The bottles 203 are forced to move away from conveyor rail 213 after handle 214 contacts orienter rail 215. Thus, the upper portion of bottle 203 barely makes contact with the rubber cushion 217 of rail 213, while the bottom portion of bottle 203 slides along rail 213'.

Chain drive 221 passes around sprockets 225, 227, 229, 231, 233 and 235. Sprocket 225 is driven by V-belt 237, and is mounted on a common shaft 239 with sprocket 241, which is coupled to sprocket 213 by means of chain drive 243 and sprocket 245.

Sprockets 231 and 233 are mounted upon shafts 247 and 249, respectively, and sprockets 251 and 253, which are coupled to chain drive 255, are also mounted upon shafts 247 and 249, respectively. Transfer rollers 223 are connected to chain drive 255. Sprocket 235 is spring loaded to maintain drive chain 221 under the desired tension.

Crank 261 cooperates with sprocket 227 by means of threaded member 263, so as to be able to move sprocket 227 in either direction shown by arrow 26S, thereby changing the effective distance between sprockets 225 and 231. The timing between the transfer rollers 223 and the pairs of skate wheels can be changed by changing the effective distance between sprockets 225 and 231.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a different embodiment in which the orienter rail 215 is replaced by a spring stop arrangement especially suitable for use with handleless glass bottles having an offcenter protrusion. Thus, conveyor belt 201 is shown transporting glass bottle 301 in the direction of arrows 303. Upper skate wheel 305 and corresponding lower skate wheel 307 are mounted upon chain drive 309 by means of extended fingers 311 of their respective chain links.

The pairs of roller skate wheels cooperate with conveyor belt 201 and conveyor rails 313 and 315, in the manner already described in conjunction with FIGS. 8 and 9, so as to cause bottle 301 to rotate clockwise, as shown by arrow 317. A stop 321, however, is mounted upon a link 323 between each pair of adjacent skate wheels. The stop 321 has an extended springlike finger 325 which is positioned so as to encounter protrusion 327 on the side of bottle 301 as it rotates. Stop 321 thereby prevents further rotation of the handleless bottle 301, for synchronization with the next stage.

FlGS. 12 and 13 show a different embodiment in which the spring stop 351 is mounted upon a link 352 of a separate chain drive 353, instead of being mounted upon the same chain drive 355 which carries the roller skate wheels 305 and 307. in this embodiment, the bottle 301 rotates clockwise, as shown by arrow 317, until protrusion 327 encounters springlike finger 357 of stop 351, which is positioned between upper conveyor rail 313 and lower conveyor rail 315. The chain drives 353 and 355 move at the same rate of speed and in the same direction, as shown by arrows 359.

The described apparatus could also be used for printing information directly upon the bottles, without the need for gluing labels thereon. Thus, if the glue is replaced by suitable printing ink and if glue pad 37 is replaced by printing type, transfer rolls 31 will apply ink to the type, and the information will be printed directly upon each bottle as it rolls across the type. There would then be no need for label feed mechanism 75 and compression pad 127, and they would be eliminated.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically applying a fluid substance to containers as they roll upright therethrough, comprising:

a. conveyor means for rotating and moving said containers in an upright position through said apparatus,

b. a roll member including a metal cylinder rotatable in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of said containers.

c. supply means for supplying said fluid substance to said roll member as it rotates, said supply means including a tube through which said fluid substance is supplied to said roll member, and means for spreading and wiping off excess fluid as said roll member rotates,

d. application means, and

e. at least one vertical transfer roll for transferring said substance from said rotating roll member to said applicating means, said apparatus being synchronized so that after said transfer roll has transferred said substance to said applicating means, one of said containers rotatably contacts said applicating means, which deposits said substance upon said container in a predetermined configuration, said transfer roll traveling in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said roll member.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said conveyor means includes a horizontal conveyor belt, stationary traction means for lateral support of said containers while they are being moved by said conveyor belt, and movable traction means positioned in opposition to said stationary traction means and which moves so as to cause said containers to rotate.

3. Apparatus for automatically applying a fluid substance to containers as they roll upright therethrough, comprising:

a. Conveyor means for rotating and moving said containers in an upright position through said apparatus,

b. a roll member rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said containers,

c. supply means for supplying said fluid substance to said roll member as it rotates, application means, and

e. at least one vertical transfer roll for transferring said sub stance from said rotating roll member to said applicating means, said apparatus being synchronized so that after said transfer roll has transferred said substance to said applicating means, one of said containers rotatably contacts said applicating means, which deposits said substance upon said container in a predetermined configuration, said transfer roll traveling in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said roll member, and said transfer roll being axially aligned with respect to said roll member and supported by a plurality of roller chains which move said transfer roll in a closed path about said roll member.

4. A roll-through labeler as defined in claim 3, including, in

addition, label feed means and compression means.

5. A roll'through labeler as defined in claim 4, in which said fluid substance is glue, said applicating means is a glue pad, and in which said label feed means is positioned so that as each rotating container arrives, the glue configuration on said container registers with one of the labels in said feed means, and said label adheres to said container.

6. A roll-through labeler as defined in claim 5, in which said compression means presses said label against said container after said label has adhered thereto.

7. A roll-through labeler as defined in claim 6 in which said roll member comprises a metal cylinder, and in which said supply means includes a tube through which said fluid substance is supplied to said roll member.

8. A roll-through labeler as defined in claim 7 in which said conveyor means includes a horizontal conveyor belt, stationary traction means for lateral support of said containers while they are being moved by said conveyor belt, and movable traction means positioned in opposition to said stationary traction means and which causes said containers to rotate.

9. A roll-through labeler as defined in claim 8 in which said transfer rolls are axially aligned with respect to said roll member and are supported by means which move said transfer rolls in a path about said roll member.

10. Apparatus for automatically applying a fluid substance to containers as they roll upright therethrough, comprising:

a. Conveyor means for rotating and moving said containers in an upright position through said apparatus,

b. a roll member rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said containers,

c. supply means for supplying said fluid substance to said roll member as it rotates,

d. application means,

at east one vertical transfer roll for transferring said substance from said rotating roll member to said applicating means, said apparatus being synchronized so that after said transfer roll has transferred said substance to said applicating means, one of said containers rotatably contacts said applicating means, which deposits said substance upon said container in a predetermined configuration, said transfer roll traveling in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said roll member,

. label feed means having retaining track means terminating in a protruding extension, and

g. label-moving means for pushing a plurality of labels against said protruding extension, said retaining track means restricting movement of said plurality of labels, while allowing a revolving glue-bearing container to separate the lead label from the other labels when the glued surface of said container contacts said lead label and said lead label adheres to said container.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which said retaining track means includes a pair of oppositely positioned retaining tracks, each terminating in a sharp protruding extension which restricts forward movement of said plurality of labels toward said container, said retaining tracts restricting lateral movement of said plurality of labels.

12. Apparatus for automatically applying a fluid substance to containers as they roll upright therethrough, comprising:

a. Conveyor means for rotating and moving said containers in an upright position through said apparatus,

b. a roll member rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said containers,

c. supply means for supplying said fluid substance to said roll member as it rotates,

d. application means,

e. at least one vertical transfer roll for transferring said substance from said rotating roll member to said applicating means, said apparatus being synchronized so that after said transfer roll has transferred said substance to said applicating means, one of said containers rotatably contacts said applicating means, which deposits said substance upon said container in a predetermined configuration, said transfer roll traveling in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said roll member,

f. a plurality of pairs of wheels, each pair including horizontally disposed and coaxially aligned upper and lower wheels, said pairs of wheels being rotatably coupled to a drive means and positioned with respect to said conveyor means so that each pair of wheels fits between and separates adjacent pairs of wheel being spaced sufficiently close to each other to prevent more than one of said containers from fitting therebetween, and

g. support means positioned higher than and along at least a portion of the path taken by said conveyor means and spaced sufficiently close to said wheels to prevent said containers from passing therebetween, and means which encounters an offcenter protrusion of said containers and thereby prevents the further rotation of said containers when they would otherwise be caused to rotate by the forces acting between said conveyor means, said wheels and said support means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said means which prevents the further rotation of said containers includes a stationary orienter rail which encounters the handles on said containers.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said means which prevents the further rotation of said containers includes stop means which moves horizontally along with said containers at the same speed as said pairs of skate wheels. 

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said conveyor means includes a horizontal conveyor belt, stationary traction means for lateral support of said containers while they are being moved by said conveyor belt, and movable traction means positioned in opposition to said stationary traction means and which moves so as to cause said containers to rotate.
 3. Apparatus for automatically applying a fluid substance to containers as they roll upright therethrough, comprising: a. Conveyor means for rotating and moving said containers in an upright position through said apparatus, b. a roll member rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said containers, c. supply means for supplying said fluid substance to said roll member as it rotates, d. application means, and e. at least one vertical transfer roll for transferring said substance from said rotating roll member to said applicating means, said apparatus being synchronized so that after said transfer roll has transferred said substance to said applicating means, one of said containers rotatably contacts said applicating means, which deposits said substance upon said container in a predetermined configuration, said transfer roll traveling in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said roll member, and said transfer roll being axially aligned with respect to said roll member and supported by a plurality of roller chains which move said transfer roll in a closed path about said roll member.
 4. A roll-through labeler as defined in claim 3, including, in addition, label feed means and compression means.
 5. A roll-through labeler as defined in claim 4, in which said fluid substance is glue, said applicating means is a glue pad, and in which said label feed means is positioned so that as each rotating container arrives, the glue configuration on said container registers with one of the labels in said feed means, and said label adheres to said container.
 6. A roll-through labeler as defined in claim 5, in which said compression means presses said label against said container after said label has adhered thereto.
 7. A roll-through labeler as defined in claim 6 in which said roll member comprises a metal cylinder, and in which said supply means includes a tube throUgh which said fluid substance is supplied to said roll member.
 8. A roll-through labeler as defined in claim 7 in which said conveyor means includes a horizontal conveyor belt, stationary traction means for lateral support of said containers while they are being moved by said conveyor belt, and movable traction means positioned in opposition to said stationary traction means and which causes said containers to rotate.
 9. A roll-through labeler as defined in claim 8 in which said transfer rolls are axially aligned with respect to said roll member and are supported by means which move said transfer rolls in a path about said roll member.
 10. Apparatus for automatically applying a fluid substance to containers as they roll upright therethrough, comprising: a. Conveyor means for rotating and moving said containers in an upright position through said apparatus, b. a roll member rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said containers, c. supply means for supplying said fluid substance to said roll member as it rotates, d. application means, e. at least one vertical transfer roll for transferring said substance from said rotating roll member to said applicating means, said apparatus being synchronized so that after said transfer roll has transferred said substance to said applicating means, one of said containers rotatably contacts said applicating means, which deposits said substance upon said container in a predetermined configuration, said transfer roll traveling in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said roll member, f. label feed means having retaining track means terminating in a protruding extension, and g. label-moving means for pushing a plurality of labels against said protruding extension, said retaining track means restricting movement of said plurality of labels, while allowing a revolving glue-bearing container to separate the lead label from the other labels when the glued surface of said container contacts said lead label and said lead label adheres to said container.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which said retaining track means includes a pair of oppositely positioned retaining tracks, each terminating in a sharp protruding extension which restricts forward movement of said plurality of labels toward said container, said retaining tracts restricting lateral movement of said plurality of labels.
 12. Apparatus for automatically applying a fluid substance to containers as they roll upright therethrough, comprising: a. Conveyor means for rotating and moving said containers in an upright position through said apparatus, b. a roll member rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said containers, c. supply means for supplying said fluid substance to said roll member as it rotates, d. application means, e. at least one vertical transfer roll for transferring said substance from said rotating roll member to said applicating means, said apparatus being synchronized so that after said transfer roll has transferred said substance to said applicating means, one of said containers rotatably contacts said applicating means, which deposits said substance upon said container in a predetermined configuration, said transfer roll traveling in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said roll member, f. a plurality of pairs of wheels, each pair including horizontally disposed and coaxially aligned upper and lower wheels, said pairs of wheels being rotatably coupled to a drive means and positioned with respect to said conveyor means so that each pair of wheels fits between and separates adjacent pairs of wheel being spaced sufficiently close to each other to prevent more than one of said containers from fitting therebetween, and g. support means positioned higher than and along at least a portion of the path taken by said conveyor means and spaced sufficiently close to said wheels to prevent said contAiners from passing therebetween, and means which encounters an offcenter protrusion of said containers and thereby prevents the further rotation of said containers when they would otherwise be caused to rotate by the forces acting between said conveyor means, said wheels and said support means.
 13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said means which prevents the further rotation of said containers includes a stationary orienter rail which encounters the handles on said containers.
 14. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said means which prevents the further rotation of said containers includes stop means which moves horizontally along with said containers at the same speed as said pairs of skate wheels. 